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Although it is sometimes falsely assumed that faculty remains static and unchanging in higher education, faculty plays a crucial role in advancing the positive outcomes for change within higher education (Jimenez et al, 2019). A concern which has been around for many decades is whether or not the listing of desired qualifications on faculty job postings results in the hiring of faculty with the knowledge, skills, and attributes that are being sought (Marcus, 1977). Job ads reflect the nature of today's labor market (Carnevale et. al, 2014). The purpose of this explorative study is to review the changing patterns within business faculty job postings over a three-year period. More specifically: To what extent have faculty job postings for business schools evolved during the last three years? How are these job postings evolving concerning experiential learning, learning modality (i.e., online/distance vs face-to-face learning), and diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Stroke alters blood flow to the brain resulting in damaged tissue and cell death. Moreover, the disruption of cerebral blood flow (perfusion) can be observed in areas surrounding and distal to the lesion. These structurally preserved but suboptimally perfused regions may also affect recovery. Thus, to better understand aphasia recovery, the relationship between cerebral perfusion and language needs to be systematically examined. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate (i) how stroke affects perfusion outside of lesioned areas in chronic aphasia and (ii) how perfusion in specific cortical areas and perilesional tissue relates to language outcomes in aphasia. We analysed perfusion data from a large sample of participants with chronic aphasia due to left hemisphere stroke (n = 43) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 25). We used anatomically defined regions of interest that covered the frontal, parietal, and temporal areas of the perisylvian cortex in both hemispheres, areas typically known to support language, along with several control regions not implicated in language processing. For the aphasia group, we also looked at three regions of interest in the perilesional tissue. We compared perfusion levels between the two groups and investigated the relationship between perfusion levels and language subtest scores while controlling for demographic and lesion variables. First, we observed that perfusion levels outside the lesioned areas were significantly reduced in frontal and parietal regions in the left hemisphere in people with aphasia compared to the control group, while no differences were observed for the right hemisphere regions. Second, we found that perfusion in the left temporal lobe (and most strongly in the posterior part of both superior and middle temporal gyri) and inferior parietal areas (supramarginal gyrus) was significantly related to residual expressive and receptive language abilities. In contrast, perfusion in the frontal regions did not show such a relationship; no relationship with language was also observed for perfusion levels in control areas and all right hemisphere regions. Third, perilesional perfusion was only marginally related to language production abilities. Cumulatively, the current findings demonstrate that blood flow is reduced beyond the lesion site in chronic aphasia and that hypoperfused neural tissue in critical temporoparietal language areas has a negative impact on behavioural outcomes. These results, using perfusion imaging, underscore the critical and general role that left hemisphere posterior temporal regions play in various expressive and receptive language abilities. Overall, the study highlights the importance of exploring perfusion measures in stroke.

Abstract Cancer predisposition syndromes are recognized in about 10% of pediatric malignancies with several genes specifically involved in a subset of pediatric tumors such as DICER1, in pleuropulmonary blastoma, cystic nephroma, and brain sarcomas. By contrast, the role of BRCA1/2 in pediatric cancer predisposition is still under investigation. We present two cases of young first-degree cousins, both carrying a germline BRCA2 variant and developing tumors characterized by somatic DICER1 mutations. Patient 1 presented with a cystic nephroma harboring a somatic DICER1 variant (p.Asp1810Tyr), while patient 2 had a primary intracranial DICER1-mutated sarcoma showing a distinct somatic DICER1 variant (p.Asp1709Glu) as well as biallelic inactivation of TP53 (p.Val173Leu, VAF 91%) and APC (p.Ile1307Lys, VAF 95%) and a pathogenic variant in KRAS (p.Gln61His). Both patients carried the same germline BRCA2 variant (p.Arg2842Cys) of unknown significance. The same variant was found in the mother of patient 2 and in the father of patient 1, who are siblings. A homologous recombination deficiency signature was not identified in any of the two tumors, possibly suggesting a reduction of BRCA2 activity. The association of BRCA2 and DICER1 variants in our cases hints at a potential cooperative role in cancer pathogenesis. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the interplay between BRCA1/2 and DICER1 variants and their implications for cancer predisposition and treatment in pediatric patients.

Glaciers in the Alps are losing mass at unprecedented and accelerating rates. Monitoring of glacier mass change as well as relevant atmospheric parameters plays an important role in improving understanding of local and downstream impacts. We present sub-seasonal, seasonal, and annual glaciological mass balance data and meteorological observations from Mullwitzkees and Venedigerkees, two glacier monitoring sites in the Hohe Tauern range of the Austrian Alps. Ablation stake networks were established on Mullwitzkees in 2006/07 and on Venedigerkees in 2011/12. Monitoring is ongoing. In addition to stake readings at sub-seasonal intervals, accumulation measurements (snow pits and probing) are carried out seasonally. The glaciological dataset consists of sub-seasonal floating-date measurements as well as fixed-date seasonal and annual values. The fixed-date glacier-wide mass balance was derived from annual point mass balance values. Automatic weather stations measuring standard meteorological parameters were installed near Mullwitzkees and Venedigerkees in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Meteorological data are provided in 10 min intervals. Uncertainties in individual point mass balance measurements were computed following the approach of the Swiss Glacier Monitoring (GLAMOS) programme, taking into account estimated density and reading errors. The sub-seasonal mass balance records highlight shorter-term variability in mass loss and the linkage with meteorological conditions. The most negative annual point mass balance recorded in the period of record was −5.8 ± 0.66 m w.e. at an elevation of 2536 m on Venedigerkees, and 2022 stands out as the most negative mass balance year to date in both time series, particularly at higher elevations. The cumulative specific mass balances (glacier-wide) over the period of record were −14.68 m w.e. at Mullwitzkees and −8.79 m w.e. at Venedigerkees. Data are available in the PANGAEA publication series and the associated datasets. The main publication series are updated annually. The Mullwitzkees mass balance datasets can be found in Stocker-Waldhuber et al. (2016) (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.965660) and Stocker-Waldhuber et al. (2024d) (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.965719). The Venedigerkees data can be found in Seiser and Fischer (2016) (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.965648) and Seiser et al. (2024d) (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.965729).

Abstract Background Mitochondrial diseases (MDs) are systemic disorders that can affect multiple organs. Renal manifestations, including renal tubular acidosis, are common because kidneys are particularly vulnerable to energy deprivation. Treatment of MDs is often complex and electrolyte replacement can be difficult especially in pediatric patients, because large and repeated amounts of oral supplements are needed but are not well tolerated. Case presentation We describe the case of a girl affected by Kearns-Sayre disease with severe renal tubular acidosis. The management of her metabolic acidosis was challenging because she showed persistent low levels of serum bicarbonates despite a progressive incrementation of oral bicarbonates. Furthermore, as a result to the ingestion of large amounts of alkali, the girl developed an aversion to oral supplementation. After positioning a percutaneous gastrostomy (PEG) and starting enteral administration of bicarbonates (with daily boluses and continuous nocturnal infusion), she finally obtained an adequate electrolyte control, with a significant increase in her quality of life. Conclusions In MDs, the combination of nocturnal continuous enteral administration of alkali plus diurnal boluses may represent a valid solution to correct metabolic acidosis. It can also result in an improved patients’ quality of life, particularly in pediatric settings, where compliance to oral therapy is often lacking due to the large and repeated amounts of unpalatable bicarbonates solutions required.

The Younger Dryas stadial was characterised by a rapid shift towards cold-climate conditions in the North Atlantic realm during the last deglaciation. While some climate parameters including atmospheric temperature and glacier extent are widely studied, empirical constraints on permafrost temperature and snow thickness are limited. To address this, we present a regional dataset of cryogenic cave carbonates (CCCs) from three caves in Great Britain that formed at temperatures between −2 and 0 °C. Our CCC record indicates that these permafrost temperatures persisted for most of the Younger Dryas. By combining ground temperatures with surface temperatures from high-resolution ground-truthed model simulations, we demonstrate that ground temperatures were approximately 6.6 ± 2.3 °C warmer than the mean annual air temperature. Our results suggest that the observed temperature offset between permafrost and the atmosphere can be explained by an average snow thickness between 0.2 and 0.9 m, which persisted for 233 ± 54 d per year. By identifying modern analogues from climate reanalysis data, we demonstrate that the inferred temperature and snow cover characteristics for the British Isles during the Younger Dryas are best explained by extreme temperature seasonality, comparable to continental parts of today's Arctic Archipelago. Such a climate for the British Isles necessitates a winter sea ice margin at approximately 45° N in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Organic acids are prevalent in the environment and their acidity and the corresponding dissociation constants can change under varying environmental conditions. The impact of nanoconfinement (when acids are confined within nanometer-scale domains) on physicochemical properties of chemical species is poorly understood and is an emerging field of study. By combining infrared and Raman spectroscopies with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we quantified the effect of nanoconfinement in silica nanopores on one of the fundamental chemical reactions-the dissociation of organic acids. The pKa of formic and acetic acids confined within cylindrical silica nanopores with 4 nm diameters were measured. MD models were constructed to calculate the shifts in the pKa values of acetic acid nanoconfined within 1, 2, 3, and 4 nm silica slit pores. Both experiments and MD models indicate a decrease in the apparent acid dissociation constants (i.e., increase in the pKa values) when organic acids are nanoconfined. Therefore, nanoconfinement stabilizes the protonated species. We attribute this observation to (1) a decrease in the average dielectric response of nanoconfined aqueous solutions where charge screening may be decreased; or (2) an increase in proton concentration inside nanopores, which would shift the equilibrium towards the protonated form. Overall, the results of this study provide the first quantification of the pKa values for nanoconfined formic and acetic acids and pave the way for a unifying theory predicting the impact of nanoconfinement on acid-base chemistry.

Background Protection provided by seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) may be measured against numerous outcomes, and their heterogeneity may hamper decision-making. The aim of this study was to explore outcomes used for estimation of SIV efficacy/effectiveness (VE) and obtain expert consensus on their importance.Research design and methods An umbrella review was first conducted to collect and map outcomes considered in systematic reviews of SIV VE. A Delphi study was then performed to reach expert convergence on the importance of single outcomes, measured on a 9-point Likert scale, in principal target groups, namely children, working-age adults, older adults, subjects with co-morbidities and pregnant women.Results The literature review identified 489 outcomes. Following data reduction, 20 outcomes were selected for the Delphi process. After two Delphi rounds and a final consensus meeting, convergence was reached. All 20 outcomes were judged to be important or critically important. More severe outcomes, such as influenza-related hospital encounters and mortality with or without laboratory confirmation, were generally top-ranked across all target groups (median scores ≥8 out of 9).Conclusions Rather than focusing on laboratory-confirmed infection per se, experimental and observational VE studies should include more severe influenza-related outcomes because they are expected to exercise a greater impact on decision-making.

Abstract Online presence is becoming an important part of everyday's life and online communities may represent a significant source of engagement for the elderlies. Nevertheless, many may struggle to be online due to a lack of expertise, and a decentralised architecture may provide a solution by removing intermediaries, such as a webmaster, while not requiring expensive cloud solutions. However, issues concerning accessibility, security, and user experience have to be tackled. The paper focuses mainly on three issues: providing a human‐readable domain, moderating content, and creating a reward system based on user reputation. An architecture is proposed based on Ethereum and Swarm. Smart contracts provide an automated set of rules to handle enterprise registration, content creation, and decision‐making process, while Swarm serves both as distributed storage and the web host. Besides, in combination with Ethereum Name Service, Swarm provides a secure, distributed, and human‐readable point of access to the web interface. The paper also describes an innovative two‐token system where one token is meant to be a trustworthy reputation metre and the other is a spendable coin to get rewards. The final result is a fully decentralised, authenticated and moderated platform where users can aggregate and share their content presentations on the Internet.